194 The Hunting Grounds 



My servant, " Five Minutes," upon whom the task 

 of getting us up in the morning usually devolved, was 

 well aware that at this period "Sahib-log" (masters) 

 are somewhat in the same humour as " bears with 

 sore heads ;" for many a boot, candlestick, and empty 

 sodawater-bottle had he dodged in his time whilst 

 attempting to rouse some heavy sleeping " sub " for 

 parade after a public night at Mess ; and, being a 

 wide-awake nigger, he now never exposed himself in 

 this somewhat perilous undertaking without having 

 first provided himself with some emollient and resusci- 

 tating mixture calculated to better the human feelings, 

 such as well-cooled claret-cup, soda and brandy, or 

 "tiger's milk," which served better than any u soft 

 words," the nigger knew, " to allay wrath." As 

 the latter concoction was considered the most effective, 

 I give the recipe ; and if ladies with surly husbands 

 would only try " Five Minutes' " dodge, of admini- 

 stering a dose of " tiger's milk " before they asked for 

 " the needful '' to settle the little account of crino- 

 line, &c., they would find it acted upon the milk of 

 human kindness far better than all the wheedling and 

 soft sawder which husbands (too soon, alas !) get ac- 

 customed to. Kecipe Beat up the yolks of three eggs 

 well with half a pint of brandy, a wine-glass of sugar, 

 a bit of lemon-peel cut thin, and a dozen cloves and 

 cardamums ; add a quart of new milk, mix well, grate 

 in the third of a nutmeg, and serve it in a tankard, of 



